Zach Benson scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period, lifting the visiting Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference second-round series Tuesday night. The victory ties the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
Tage Thompson recorded a goal and an assist, while Josh Doan added two assists for Buffalo. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 28 shots.
Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield found the net for Montreal, with Jakub Dobes making 19 saves.
Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday in Buffalo.
Benson, celebrating his 21st birthday, scored the decisive goal on the power play at 4:41 of the third period. Doan sent a pass to the edge of the crease, where Benson shook off his defender, gathered the puck, and lifted it over Dobes’ glove.
Mattias Samuelsson opened the scoring at 6:32 of the first period, one-timing a snap shot inside the right post after receiving a cross-ice pass from Josh Norris.
Buffalo appeared to double its lead midway through the opening period when Jack Quinn tucked a rebound into Dobes’ glove while the puck was over the goal line. Referees initially ruled it a goal after review, but Montreal successfully challenged for goaltender interference, ruling that Sabres forward Konsta Helenius impeded Dobes’ ability to play his position.
Newhook tied the game at 1-1 at 10:08 of the first. Ivan Demidov moved the puck along the wall to Jake Evans, who was alone in front. Evans rang a shot off the crossbar, recovered the puck behind the net, and fed Newhook in front.
Caufield put Montreal ahead 2-1 on the power play with 13 seconds left in the period. He took the puck along the goal line, skated toward Luukkonen, and slid it under the goalie’s left pad.
Thompson pulled Buffalo even seven minutes into the second period in stunning fashion. He dumped the puck from center ice into the left corner. It hit the top of the boards, bounced toward the net, glanced off the side of Dobes’ right pad, and trickled into the net to make it 2-2.
